Year 3 · Unit 12 · Lesson 5 of 5
Exam Day: Calm, Prepared, Ready
The night before the exam, a student revises until 3 a.m.
Will this help or hurt? Why?
It will almost certainly hurt. Sleep is when the brain stores what you have learned, and a tired candidate misreads questions and makes careless errors. The last 24 hours are for light revision, organising your materials and rest. This lesson is your exam-day plan.
Master the essentials
The week before
Revise your weakest areas lightly and sit one timed paper; do not start new topics.
Your three target areas from the mock
The night before
Pack your bag, check the time and place, and sleep.
Pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, ID or candidate number, water, a watch
The morning
Eat breakfast, arrive early and avoid last-minute panic chats.
Arrive about 30 minutes early.
The first 5 minutes
Read every instruction: how many questions, which are compulsory, how much time.
"Answer Question 1 and any TWO others."
Objective papers
Answer every item: eliminate wrong options, never leave a blank, mark or shade carefully.
Cross out two options, then choose.
Theory papers
Divide your time by the marks; underline the key words in each question; write in full sentences.
about one minute per mark
If you panic
Pause, breathe slowly, move to a question you can do, then come back.
Like Lena: don't let one question beat the rest of your paper.
The last 10 minutes
Check your details on every sheet, check you answered every required question, then proofread.
Name and candidate number on every page
See it done
1. The instruction reads: "Answer THREE questions: Question 1 and any TWO others." A candidate answers Questions 2, 3 and 4. What happens?
They lose all the marks for Question 1, which was compulsory, and one of their other answers cannot count. Reading the rubric takes one minute; ignoring it can cost a third of the paper.
2. You have 60 minutes for a paper worth 60 marks: Question 1 (20 marks) and Question 2 (40 marks). How should you split the time?
Roughly one minute per mark, keeping a few minutes to check: about 18 minutes for Question 1, 36 minutes for Question 2 and 6 minutes to check.
Common mistake: Spending too long on one hard question. In an objective paper every item is worth the same mark: make your best choice, flag it and come back if there is time.
10 questions with instant feedback
Choose the best answer.
1.The night before the exam, you should:
Correct. Rest and preparation.
Not quite. Rest and preparation. Answer: A. pack your materials and sleep well.
Not quite. Rest and preparation. Answer: A. pack your materials and sleep well.
Not quite. Rest and preparation. Answer: A. pack your materials and sleep well.
2.In the first five minutes of the paper, you should:
Not quite. Know the rules of the paper. Answer: B. read all the instructions carefully.
Correct. Know the rules of the paper.
Not quite. Know the rules of the paper. Answer: B. read all the instructions carefully.
Not quite. Know the rules of the paper. Answer: B. read all the instructions carefully.
3.In an objective test, if you are unsure of an answer, you should:
Not quite. A blank always scores zero. Answer: C. eliminate wrong options and make your best choice.
Not quite. A blank always scores zero. Answer: C. eliminate wrong options and make your best choice.
Correct. A blank always scores zero.
Not quite. A blank always scores zero. Answer: C. eliminate wrong options and make your best choice.
4.In a 60-minute paper worth 60 marks, a 20-mark question deserves about:
Not quite. About one minute per mark. Answer: D. 18–20 minutes.
Not quite. About one minute per mark. Answer: D. 18–20 minutes.
Not quite. About one minute per mark. Answer: D. 18–20 minutes.
Correct. About one minute per mark.
5.If you panic during the exam, the best first step is to:
Correct. Calm first, then continue.
Not quite. Calm first, then continue. Answer: A. pause and breathe slowly.
Not quite. Calm first, then continue. Answer: A. pause and breathe slowly.
Not quite. Calm first, then continue. Answer: A. pause and breathe slowly.
6."Answer ONE question from this section" means:
Not quite. Answering more wastes time and earns nothing extra. Answer: B. choose only one question.
Correct. Answering more wastes time and earns nothing extra.
Not quite. Answering more wastes time and earns nothing extra. Answer: B. choose only one question.
Not quite. Answering more wastes time and earns nothing extra. Answer: B. choose only one question.
7.Arriving early helps because:
Not quite. A calm start. Answer: C. you can settle calmly without rushing.
Not quite. A calm start. Answer: C. you can settle calmly without rushing.
Correct. A calm start.
Not quite. A calm start. Answer: C. you can settle calmly without rushing.
8.In the last ten minutes you should:
Not quite. Secure the marks you have earned. Answer: D. check your details and proofread.
Not quite. Secure the marks you have earned. Answer: D. check your details and proofread.
Not quite. Secure the marks you have earned. Answer: D. check your details and proofread.
Correct. Secure the marks you have earned.
9.Underlining the key words in a question helps you to:
Correct. Stay on the question.
Not quite. Stay on the question. Answer: A. answer exactly what is asked.
Not quite. Stay on the question. Answer: A. answer exactly what is asked.
Not quite. Stay on the question. Answer: A. answer exactly what is asked.
10.In the week before the exam, it is best to:
Not quite. Targeted, light revision. Answer: B. revise your weakest areas lightly and sit one timed paper.
Correct. Targeted, light revision.
Not quite. Targeted, light revision. Answer: B. revise your weakest areas lightly and sit one timed paper.
Not quite. Targeted, light revision. Answer: B. revise your weakest areas lightly and sit one timed paper.
My exam-day plan
Complete your personal plan. Then compare with the model below.
1. My three target areas for final revision:
2. What I will pack the night before:
3. My time plan for the English paper(s):
4. What I will do if I panic:
1. Model: concord (one of / either…or), reported questions, summary concision (my three weakest mock sections).
2. Two blue or black pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, ID or candidate number, water, a watch (phones are usually not allowed).
3. Objective paper: about one minute per item, every item answered, 5 minutes to check. Writing paper: 5 minutes to plan, about 35 to write, 5 to check; comprehension: one minute per mark.
4. Put the pen down, breathe in for four counts and out for four, move to a question I can answer, then return to the hard one.
Next: the Lesson 5 exit quiz, then the unit test. The final unit test has 15 questions and one timed essay. When you finish it, you have completed BrainyBerry English Junior.